VCPBA Oak Woodland Conservation 2025--2029 Part II
2 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025091342
Public Agency
Ventura County Resource Conservation District
Document Title
VCPBA Oak Woodland Conservation 2025--2029 Part II
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/4/2025
Document Description
The Ventura County Prescribed Burn Association (VCPBA) plans to conduct thinning, brushing, chipping, and prescribed burning (pile burning and broadcast burning) across numerous sites in Ventura County. The purpose of this project is to prevent tree mortality of mature oak trees by reducing dead woody fuels and certain vegetation growing under mature oak canopy that can cause cambium-kill and canopy fire if not prescribed burnt. This work will both reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire and fire-harden mature oak trees (primarily Quercus agrifolia, Q. lobata, and Q. john-tuckeri). VCPBA will also be surveying and managing golden spotted oak borer (GSOB). GSOB amplifier trees will be felled and chipped immediately to slow the spread of this non-native invasive beetle. Oak trees that that are minimally infested will be treated with insecticide and/or their bark will be burnt to reduce the spread and proliferation of these high risk beetles. At other project sites, dead vegetation and dead wood will be pile burned. Oak plantings may also occur on some project sites to encourage oak reforestation in non-native invasive plant habitats (particularly Centaurea solstitialis). Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) will inspect burn units, prior to broadcast and pile burning. VCPBA will acquire burn permits from both VCFD and from Ventura Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD), prior to any prescribed burns. Beneficiaries of this project include residents across Ventura County, particularly in certain areas of Lockwood Valley, Ojai, and Simi Valley.
Contact Information
Name
Kevin Mason
Agency Name
Ventura County Resource Conservation District
Job Title
Fire Preparedness Coordinator
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Ojai
Counties
Ventura
Regions
Countywide
Jobs
2
Parcel #
011001033; 011001037; 037001230; 037001229; 037001307; 037001306
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Minor alteration to land, Section 15304
Reasons for Exemption
This project involves minor brushing, thinning, chipping, pile burning, and broadcast burning to improve oak forest health by addressing GSOB and by reducing potential for cambium kill and canopy fire. Chainsaw crews will primarily operate outside of bird nesting season (Sep--Nov). If saw work is conducted within bird nesting season (Feb--Aug), avian biologists will be consulted to prevent a "bird take" and ensure compliance within the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This project will reduce the risk of fire spread, protecting communities of people and critical ecosystems. No impacts to hazardous or critical resources and no cumulative effects from successive projects will occur. The District finds that this project does not have the potential to significantly degrade environmental factors, such as aesthetics, agriculture/forestry, long-term air quality, biological/cultural/tribal resources, geology/soils, greenhouse gases, hydrology/water quality, land use, minerals, population, public services, recreation, transportation, or utilities and is therefore, categorically CEQA exempt.
County Clerk
Ventura
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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